JEFFERSON CITY, MO, April 29, 2024 – Anna Persell, a park superintendent with Missouri State Parks, a division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, has been selected as the State of Missouri and department Team Member of the Month for April 2024. She was selected for her service to the department and her efforts while organizing and hosting special events at Crowder State Park.
As part of her usual duties, Persell manages Crowder State Park, a very busy park with a campground, lake, large day-use area, 17 miles of trails, canoe and kayak rentals, and a large group camp. She operates the facility along with two full-time team members. You can often find her trimming trails, hosting programs for visitors or
working on a variety of special projects.
Persell routinely leads interpretive hikes and hosts “Toddler Tuesdays,” a program designed for preschool aged children. She also has organized and hosted a variety of other popular events such as a Dutch Oven cooking contest and an Amazing Race-themed event. The park also hosts Women in Nature events and First Day Hikes on New Year’s Day.
“It’s common to find her presenting an interpretive program on a Friday night in the campground, then she is busy cleaning the shower house at 6 a.m. the next morning,” said Dustin Webb, director of the northern region of Missouri State Parks. “She always goes above and beyond in the name of stewardship, public service and interpretation.”
Recently, Persell partnered with the Missouri Veterans Commission to host 15 Missouri veterans for an all-inclusive managed deer hunt in the park. Each veteran in attendance was provided food, lodging and hunting tags for the weekend, as well as a hunting guide and free deer processing. The event took a considerable amount of time and effort to plan, but was a huge success.
“The hunt went smoothly, as does everything Anna plans,” said David Kelly, director of Missouri State Parks. “Her attention to detail made everyone feel at ease. Everything down to the last detail was planned and we are lucky to have someone of her caliber working with us.”
Persell joined the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in January 1998 and resides in Princeton.